Ryan sees hope for bipartisan deals

By DAVID CATANESE

04/10/2011 11:07 AM EDT

Appearing to defend his controversial 2012 budget plan, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said on Sunday he remains hopeful that lawmakers can reach bipartisan agreements on tax and Social Security reform this year.

Asked on NBC's "Meet the Press," if tax reform might be more politically palatable than entitlement reform, the House Budget Committee chairman replied, "I don't know."

But he said he's holding on "some hope" on restructuring the tax system, adding that, "Social Security is hopefully an area where we might have a shot at a bipartisan agreement this summer."

Ryan also defended his budget blueprint, noting that the Congressional Budget Office predicts Medicare will go bankrupt in nine years.

"So what are we doing? We're preserving and protecting it," he said.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has disputed Ryan's claim in a press release, also pointing to the CBO to note that his plan would raise health care costs for seniors and bring back the "donut hole" for prescription drug coverage.